Wax handling apparatus



Dec. 21, 1954 R. s. BETTES, JR 2,697,247

WAX HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H L N R \|ll o Q L .9 N

,1 i; I 3| (@Ei I mmvrox Richard 5. Beffes, Jr.

ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1954 s -r53 R 2,697,247

WAX HANDLING APPARATUS Filed March 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 COOL/MG 4 m l/VL E 75 I 7'0 Press TROUGH &

DEFLECTOR Y DEFZECTOR HEA TERs HEATERS (5TEA M, ETC.)

mmvroze. d s. Beffe Jr.

ATTORNEY United States Patent WAX HANDLING APPARATUS Application March 28, 1952, Serial No. 279,153 16 Claims. (Cl. 18-1) This invention relates to improvements in the continuous manufacture of solid wax objects from particulate wax. More particularly it concerns apparatus for handling high velocity adhesive particulate solids whereby such solids may be reduced in velocity and their tendency to agglomerate on a collecting surface a short distance from their source may be substantially eliminated.

A process and apparatus for transforming molten wax into solid cakes or the like which, 'briefly described, comprises initially forming the wax into a thin plastic film and comminuting same into uniformly particulate solids by means of rapidly rotating intermeshing multi-tooth cutters followed by die compression of the particulate solids into cakes, is described and claimed in copending application for Letters Patent Serial No. 167,216 filed June 9, 1950. In the process therein described, the particulate wax which is formed is projected rapidly downward from the comminuting means and since the wax film is in a semi-solid or plastic state when it is comminuted the particles produced are somewhat tacky and tend to adhere to surfaces which they may strike and to agglomerate thereon. When there is sufiicient vertical distance available for the particles to be cooled and substantially decelerated in their downward travel before striking a piece of equipment, e. g. a continuous conveyor leading to the press, agglomeration difiiculties are essentially non-existent. The problem of agglomeration is acute, however, when the distance between the comminuting device and the conveyor is so short that the high velocity particles have had little opportunity to be cooled or decelerated and thereby lessen their tendency to agglomerate. It becomes necessary in that event to decelcrate the particles in the available space so that the tendency of the adhesive material to agglomerate may be minimized.

Since the delivery of finely divided wax particles to the die forming press in a loose and unpacked condition is essential in the above described process, the present invention has 'as a primary object the provision of a means whereby the rapidly descending adhesive wax particles may be decelerated to such an extent that they may be received on a continuous conveyor, or the like, positioned only a relatively few inches from the cutters, in the desired condition. It is a further object to provide a means whereby rapidly moving adhesive particles of wax may, in a very short distance, be reduced from a velocity at which agglomeration can not be avoided to one at which substantially no agglomeration occurs. Additional objects will be apparent from the ensuing description when considered in conjunction with the attached drawings.

Briefly stated, the present invention provides a means whereby high velocity adhesive wax particles, produced in the counterrotating cutters of a comminuting device in a manner hereinafter more fully described, may be substantially decelerated by directing same against a plurality of parallel bafiles which are displaced from the vertical by a relatively slight angle and are disposed transverse to the axes of the wax comminuting device in such a manner as to intersect the substantially perpendicular wax sprays, causing the wax to impinge thereon and be substantially decelerated. The angle at which the wax strikes the baflies is critical in as much as the further the bafiles are dipslaced from the vertical the greater is the likelihood of the particles adhering thereto and causing agglomeration while too slight a displacement from vertical is of little value in decelerating the particles. A second critical requirement is that there be no clear vertical path for wax to travel without striking at least one bafile. Thus, it may be seen that too small an angle of displacement is unsatisfactory for a second reason, viz. the baffies must be too close together in order to prevent wax particles from passing straight through without impingement. It has been found that the bafiies should intersect the substantially parallel planar sprays of wax at an angle of from about 5 to about 20, preferably from about 10 to about 15 and that the distance between parallel bafiies should be at least about 1% inches, preferably at least about 2 inches, and no greater than a distance equal to the vertical height of the baffle arrangement multiplied by the sine of the angle of displacement. The width of the wax sprays entering the bafiies is controlled by causing same to pass through a relatively narrow slot immediately upon leaving the cutters. By this means the more widely divergent particles are prevented from passing to the baflies and the remainder is thereby directed in a more uniform pattern. By means of the present invention, therefore, adhesive wax particles descending at the rate of hundreds of inches per second may be decelerated and deposited loosely, without agglomeration, on a surface only a relatively few inches from the comminuting device.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a partially diagrammatic elevation of the process for transforming molten wax into particulate solids and then into die compressed solids wherein the relation of the battle arrangement to the other pieces of equipment is shown.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken along lines 22, with film guide and wax film removed, in Fig. 1 showing the parallel baflles in detail and more clearly indicating the relation of same to the cutters and conveyor.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view in elevation of the fragment between lines 33 in Fig. 1, showing the comminuting device and upper portion of the collecting chute partly in section with elements removed.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are partial views of alternative bafile arrangements showing in section the relation between superimposed sets of baffles.

Referring to Fig. 1 a paraflin wax having a melting point of 122 to 124 F. is introduced at a temperature of from about 25 to 75 above its melting point via line 10 into wax tank 11. It is recommended that the wax be at a temperature sufficiently above its melting point to minimize undesired caking of the wax. The five foot diameter drum 12 having a length of twelve feet is rotatably positioned on supporting structure 13. The drum is rotated at from about 2 to about 10 revolutions per minute (by means not shown) in such a manner as to permit the continuous immersion of a segment of the periphery of the drum in the molten wax. The cooling drum employed in the process is of standard construction and is well-known to the art and while it is use this means of obtaining a substantially continuous film of plastic wax any other method whereby such a film is produced may be satisfactorily employed. A typical example of the type drum which is suitable for the process is shown in U. S. 1,361,346. In general, all of the mechanical details which are essential to the satisfactory operation of this drum are well-known to the art, hence no detailed description of this apparatus is necessary. It is preferred to direct a continuous spray of coolant against the top of the inside of the drum which results in a continuous falling film of coolant along the drum walls. The coolant is continuously removed from the bottom of the drum by a suction pump (not shown).

As drum 12 is rotated through the molten wax a continuous film of wax 22 is formed on the outer surface of the drum which is at a temperature substantially below the solidification point of the wax. It is preferred that the film coming off of the drum and entering the cutters be within the range of from about 30 to about 40 F. below the melting point of the 122 to 124 F. wax. This temperature range embraces the so-called plastic range of the 122 to 124 F. wax and it is only within that range that the cutters operate efliciently; below about 82 F. the film coming off the drum tends to be brittle Whereas the point of the while above about 94 F. it is too soft. plastic range varies according to the melting wax employed so also does the temperature of the wax film enteringthe cutters vary with the speed of rotation of the cooling drum, the temperature of the coolant and the rate of introduction of the coolant. As the drum rotates, the wax film 22 is continuously' strip'ped off by scraper lade which'is in continuous contact with'the outer surface of the rotatingdrum. The wax'film 22 which is stripped from the drum by scraper blade 15 passes over thewax guide 16 cooperatively positioned below the scraper blade in such a manner as to guide the Wax film to a point 17 at the intersection of the outer circumferences of the circles formed by the rotation of the teeth on cutters 18 and 19. It is essential that wax guide 15 be at a temperature low enough to prevent sticking of the wax film as it is directedto the cutters. Additional cooling may be obtained by any suitable means such as a stream of cooled air on the underside of the guide or by employing a hollow guide and internally cooling by the same medium that cools the drum 12 The' wax film passes into the cornminuting device 23 and is comminuted by the rotation of cutters 18 and 19 toward the wax film.

For satisfactory comminution it is' essential that the Wax film approaching the cutters be within the, plastic range. yet nottoo warm. "Generally, achieving a' film temperature in this range will not be difficult, since with solidification of the wax 'as the drum turns the wax temperature will fall rapidly to about this temperature. However, should the drum speed be too low or the cooling rate. too high the film may be cooled to. below about 82 F., become brittle, and as a result break into non-uniform fragments at the scraper blade or in the cutters. On the other hand if these conditions are reversed the film becomes too soft, is not properly comminuted, and tends to foul the cutters. Adjustment of both drum speed and cooling water flow rate are therefore necessary'for control of film temperature as well as production capacity.

Throughout the specification and the claims which follow the terms semi-solid" and plastic when referring to the wax film or to the particulate wax solids, shall be understood as being synonomous and as descriptive of paraifin wax or equivalent material which is sufficiently pliable to ride over the scraper blade in a continuous ribbon or film. The temperature range within which a paraffin wax is in this condition is directly related tothe melting point of the wax. Thus, a paraffin wax melting at 122 to 124 F. is in this condition at a temperature in the range of from about 30 F. to about 40 F. below its melting point and this range may be readily ascertained for any melting point wax. Within these ranges the normally brittle nature of wax is supplanted by the plastic or semi-solid and it is to the cornminution of films of wax or equivalent material in such a condition that this invention is particularly directed.

Counterrotating cutters 18 and 19 in comminuting device 23 cut wax film 22 into adhesive wax particles which are projected rapidly downward in a plurality of perpendicular sprays 21, the planes of which are transverse to the axes of the cutters. The width of these sprays is controlled as the comminuted wax passes through a rectangular slot in the lower housing of comminuting device 23. The wax then passes through chute having a removable panel through which the bafiies may be inspected and cleaned. Both the slot and the panel hereinabove referred to are hereinafter more fully described with ref* erence to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. The parallel bafflesv 24 in housing 25, which is cooperatively aflixed to chute 29, are positioned at an angle of 15 from the vertical and intersect the planes of the wax'sprays, causing the particles to impinge thereon and be substantially decelerated. The

wax leaves the bafiie arrangement at 28 and falls freely a short distance to the conveyor 29 which delivers the wax to the press.

It is desirable that there be sufficient space between the cutters and baffles to permit cleaning of the equipment; without dismantling same. if, however, space is extremely limited, chute 2%) can be shortened and thebafiies brought up quite close to the base of the housing around comminuting device 23. "The baflles shouldnot be positioned.

too close to the housing'or the Wax troughs 3 1- and 32, hereinafter described in detail, however, in order to avoidv raising the temperature of the baffles much aboye7Q- E. For proper operation; the baffles should be substantially cooler than the descending wax particles. Thus, unless substantial quantities ofcooled air can be passed around baffies 24 to prevent their increasing in temperature, the top of the baffles 24 should be at least a sufficient distance from troughs 31 and 32 to prevent any heating of this kind. The top of the housing on comminuter 23 separates from the bottom at 36 for ease of maintenance.

Fig. 2 more clearly depicts the manner in which the substantially perpendicular planar sprays of wax 21 are intersected by bafiles 24 causing the sprays to be broken and the particles to be deflected and decelerated. Some of thewax will be deflected to the opposing baffle after the initial impingement and will strike opposing baiiies a number of times before leaving the baffle arrangement at 28 and being received on conveyor 29. It is advantageous to employ a. reverse bafile at the ends of each bathe in a manner similar to that indicated, with respect to a single baffie, by 30. Whereas baffie 30 is shown very short in length relative to the main baffies 24 it may, space permitting, be substantially longer with a definite advantage being gained thereby. Thus, for example, superimposed bathe arrangements may be used wherein an uppermost set of batlies is displaced to one side of the vertical and a lower set in which the baffies' are displaced to the opposite side as shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 or the bafiles may be displaced to, same side of vertical and staggered in a manner analogous to Fig. The angle at which the lower set is displaced may be different than that of the upper set.

The angle at which baflles 24 are displaced from vertical may vary within narrow limits but should be no greater than about 20 from the vertical and should be positioned in such a manner, with respect to juxtaposed parallel baffles, that no clear vertical path through the baflie system is open to the wax particles, i. e. the maximum distance D permissable between baffles is equal to the vertical distance H, from top to bottom of the'baffies, multiplied by the sine of the angle of displacement. It is preferred that this distance D be at a maximum but it may be reduced if desired. When superu'nposed bafiie arrangements are employed as shown in Fig. 5 D can exceed H times the sine of the angle if the lower set of bafiies is positioned so that no particle can pass directly through without contacting at least one bafiie. There should, however, be at least about 1 inches between bafiies in order to avoid packing and clogging of wax particles. These two features of the bafiie arrangement viz., angle of displacement and distance between bafiies, are critical and have the effect of fixing a minimum value for H. Since a primary object of the present invention is to prevent agglomeration of adhesive particulate wax on the conveyor when the distance between cutters and conveyor is insufficient for the particles to slow down and/or be cooled, it may be seen that there exists a practical maximum value for H viz., the minimum distance in which the projected wax will de'celerate and/ or cool sufiiciently to prevent agglomeration in the absence of any decelerating means. The present invention is particularly adapted for use in those situations wherein a distance of less than about five feet'exists between cutters and conveyor or. other surface and the adhesive wax is projected from the cutters at velocities. in excess. of about 600 inches per second. Employing a'system of'bafiles whereinH was 1,0,5 inchesfa'nd 'D'vvas 1.96 inches particles leaving the cutters at about 1230 inches persecond have been d e celerated and received on a conveyor less than 2 feet from the cutter in a loose and non-agglomerated condition. Chutelt; in such. case was about 10 inches. v

Baflles 24 and. housing 25. may be produced from. metal or synthetic resin or the like and although their thickness may vary. within reasonable limits" they'should be as thin as. possible so as to permit a maximum of bafiies to be. placed under the cutter. The use of the resin Teflon (polytetrafiuoroethylene.) for" this purpose has definite advantages in] view or the fact that wax has somewhat less tendency. to adhere thereto thanto. other resins or metals. Panel 26 in'chu'te 20. maybe opened tov inspect and, cleanthe. baffie and to observe. the manner in which the wax impinges. on. baffies 24. I

Cutters 18 and 19-- have. a diameter of '8 inchesand when they are rotating at- 3,000 R. P. the teeth. about; their peripheries will have a velocity" of about 123.0- inches per second Whereas the wax particles are pro. jected from the. cutters'at somewhat less than this velocitybecause of: airresistan'c 'etc they are] never-'1 theless traveling at a: velocityclose to.' this figure, By, means of the present invention therefore'it is possible to decelerate wax particles, in a short distance. from a velocity at which upon striking the conveyor agglomeration could not be avoided to a velocity at which substantially no agglomeration occurs.

Referring now to Fig. 3 it may be seen that as wax particles 21 are projected rapidly from cutters 18 and 19, those which can, pass through slot 27 formed by the leading edges of the housing of comminuter device 23. The angle of these sprays can thus be controlled so that more widely divergent particles can be caught on the leading edges of slot 27. These leading edges are heated so that wax impinged thereon is melted and permitted to leave the housing through a plurality of apertures 33 bored longitudinally in the lowermost portion of the housing or to run along the underside of the housing. The molten wax flowing along the underside of the housing and through apertures 37 or through apertures 33 enters troughs 31 and 32 and from there empties into a tank (not shown). The leading edges and base of the comminuter housing and troughs 31 and 32 may be heated by any suitable means, e. g. by aflixing steam or hot water lines as diagrammatically indicated by 34 and 35 in a manner apparent to one skilled in the art and providing for appropriate return lines, etc. (not shown). Troughs 31 and 32 and the leading edges of the housing may be hollow if desired and the heating medium passed therein.

Conveyor 29 is positioned directly below bafiles 24 allowing suflicient space to permit the pile of wax particles to travel thereunder without contact.

Comminuting device 23 is described in detail and claimed in my copending application for Letters Patent Serial No. 186,805, seen from Figs. 1, 2 and 3, comminuting device 23 comprises essentially a pair of counterrotating intermeshing cutters 18 and 19 each of which has a plurality of teeth about its periphery. In a preferred embodiment the cutters have 36 equally spaced rows of very thin teeth about each 8 inch cutter and the cutters intermesh a distance at least equal to the thickness of the wax film and coact without contact between cuttfillsdtO cut the film of wax into uniformly particulate so: s.

The degree of particulation necessary for process operation is primarily limited by the design of the press. Most presses suitable for an operation of this type require that the bulk ratio of the material being pressed be less than 3 /2. The bulk ratio of particulate material is that figure which represents the ratio of a volume of unpressed wax to the volume of a solid cake produced from the unpressed wax. Since the volume of particulate wax will vary with settling, two volume measurements are ordinarily made on the unpressed wax: One immediately after pouring into a measuring vessel, the other after forced settling caused by light tapping on the vessel has ceased. In Table I below, the maximum figures relate to the volume measurement taken immediately and the minimum is that after light tapping. From this table can be seen to what extent the film of plastic wax is comminuted by cutters 18 and 19.

TABLE I Bulk ratios of samples of granulated parafiin wax Drum Bulk Ratio Speed n. P. M.

Cutter Speed, R. P. M.

Max. Min.

To aid in the prevention of agglomeration of the adhesive wax particles leaving the cutters it is highly desirable that cooled air, introduced via inlets 37, be passed upward through chute 20 and the baffles 24 to cool the battles and the downcoming wax as much as possible.

It shall be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the novel apparatus of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof and while the apparatus has been described spefiled June 9, 1950. As can be cifically with respect to paraflin wax it is adaptable for other waxes both natural and synthetic as well as such materials as soaps, detergents, etc.

I claim:

temperature slightly below particles jecting said adhesive particles in a plurality of substantially parallel fan-shaped sprays, a plurality of parallel affles disposed in the path of said-particles intersectmg said sprays at an angle in the range of from about 5 to about 20 and spaced from each other by at least about sponding to the height of the sine of said angle, and deflecting surfaces between said pro ecting means and said baflles for limiting the width of the fan-shaped sprays.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes means for heating said deflecting surfaces above the melting point of the particles so that deflected particles may be removed from the deflecting surfaces as a liquid.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes means for contacting said baflles and adhesive particles with a cooling gas.

4. Apparatus for processing a material which passes through a plastic state while being transformed from l quid to solid, which apparatus comprises in combinacontinuous film of said maa plurality of parallel baflles displaced at an angle of from about 5 to about 20 from vertical, each of said baflles being separated from those juxtaposed thereto by a distance D in the range of from about 1% inches to that distance obtained by multiplying the sine of the angle at which the bafl'les are displaced from vertical by the vertical distance H from top to bottom of said baffles, said baflles being so disposed below said comminuting means said baflles at about the angle at which the baffles are The apparatus of claim 4 which includes means disposed between said he apparatus of claim 5 wherein the regularizing means includes means for heating same above the melting point of the particles eliminated thereby so that the same may be removed therefrom as a liquid.

7. In combination with a comminuting device comprising two counterrotatable intermeshing multi-tooth cutters whereby a film of semi-solid wax may be transformed into adhesive wax particles which are projected therefrom in a plurality of substantially parallel vertical planar sprays at a velocity sufficient to cause agglomeration thereof upon striking a conveyor disposed therebelow, a decelerating means disposed below said comminuting means which comprises a plurality of parallel bafiies displaced at an angle of from 5 to about 20 from vertical, each of said baffles being separated from those juxtaposed thereto by a distance D in the range of from about 1% inches to that distance obtained by multiplying the sine of the angle at which the baffies are displaced from vertical by the vertical distance H from top to bottom of said baffles, said baflles being so disposed below said comminuting means that substantially all of the wax particles in said planar sprays strike the batfies at about the angle at which the bafiles are displaced from vertical and a conveyor disposed below that said planar sprays strike said; decelerating means, for receiving, s id; particles 12;.- Ehe CQmbination of. claim 10 which includes aand transporting same to a die "forming press. second set of parallel baflles. cooperativelyfdisposed below 8. In combination. with means for projecting particu: said plurality of parallel bafiies t said decelerating means late solids of an adhesive nature in a plurality ofsub- 0 wherein the baffles insaid second se t'are' displaced, with stantially parallel planar sprays said solids being prorespect to vertical, to the opposite side from those baffies jected at a velocity sufiicient to, cause agglomeration insaiddecelerating meansv and coact wlth the bafiies in thereof upon striking a collecting surface. in their path, a said decelerating means to additionally decelerate the admeans fo d el a ng. a id and ubs antial y pr slv P r-mks venting. their agglomeration disposed.- bet-weensaid pro- 13 The combination of claim 12 wherein sa1d second jecting means and said collecting surface which deceleiat: v set. of baffies is. attached to and forms an extension of the ingmeans comprises a plurality of parallel baffles disparallel baffies thereabove. placed at an angle of from about 5 to about 20 from 14. An apparatus for handling adhesive particles at a vertical, each of said bafi les being separated from those temperature slightly below the melting point of said parjurrtaposed thereto by a distance D in the range of. from ticles, which apparatus comprises means'for projecting about 1 /2 inches. to thatdistance obtained bymultiplying said adhesive particles downward in a plurality of subthe sine of the angle at which the bafiies are displaced stanti'ally parallel fan-shaped vertical sprays, a first set from vertical by the vertical distance H from top to botof, parallel baifiies disposed in. the path of said particles tom of said baflie s, .said patties. being so disposed below lc fi ng i pr y angle the range of o said projecting means that said baffles intersect the path about 5? to about said baffies being separated from otsaidplanar sprays at about the angle at which, the bat- 20, each. otherby at least about 1 inches, a second set of fles are displaced from vertical. parallelbafliescooperatively disposed below said first set i 9,, The combination of: claim 8 which. includes means of baffles in which second set the baffles are displaced to a c tac in h w s p t c es. a d baffl w t a he. qpuvs te i e f verticalfrom t 'baffles in Said t ing gas'. set and said first and second set of baflles coact to pre- 10. In combination with means for rapidly projecting 15 vent any of said particles from'passing'through said bafadhesive. particulate solids downward in a plurality of fies without contacting same.' i substantially parallel vertical planar sprays, a means for 1 5:. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the said second regularizing the width of said sprays, disposed below said set of bafiles' is attached to'and forms'an extension of projecting means, which comprises a barrier means havthe first set of baffles. ing asubstantially rectangular opening therein positioned 1d. An apparatus 'for. handling adhesive particles at a substantially immediately below and parallel to the source temperature slightly below the melting point of said paror said sprayswhereby divergent particulate solids may ticles, which apparatus comprises means for projecting he-eliminated from said sprays and means for deceleratsaid. adhesive particles downward in a plurality of subing said solids and substantially preventing their agstantially parallel fan-shaped vertical sprays, a first set glomeration on a substantially horizontal surface in their f pafallelbaflles disposed in the path of said particles path disposed between said projecting means and. said intersecting said'sprays at an angle in the range of from surface which decelerating means comprises a plurality. about'5r 'to about 20 said baffies being separated from of. parallel baffles displaced at an angle of. from. about 5.- each ther'. byl at least about 1 /2v inches, a second set of to about 20 from vertical, each of said bafiies being sepa-, parallel baifies cooperatively disposed below said first set rated from those juxtaposed thereto by; a distance'D in the 40 of baflies wliich coact with said first set to prevent any range of from about 1 inches to that distance obtained of said particles from passing throughsaid baffies withby-rnultiplying the sine. of the angle. at which. the baffles 011i contacting same;

are. displaced irom ver fcal by the vertical distance H grorn. to? golbottorr':1 of" said baflie's, saidhbaifieiJ being s10 References Cited in the file of this patent ispose eow. sai projecting means t at su stantial y. I all oi the wax particles in said planar sprays strike said UNITED STATES E bafiles at about the. angle at whi h the baflles are dis- Number Name D placed, from vertical. i i 1,814,172 Martinet July 14, 1931 11. The. combination of. claim 10 wherein the barrier 1,845,847 Reuther L; Feb. 16, 1932 means. includes means for heating same-so that the par- 2,245,640 Beattie June 17, 1941 treulate solids which have'been eliminated from the 16,295 n rton et a1; July 25, 1950 ea may-12 m lt and s o esl fi rb n a l ui 

